Document 0301
 DOCN  M9440301
 TI    HTLV-I associated myelopathy: an endemic disease of Canadian aboriginals
       of the Northwest Pacific coast?
 DT    9404
 AU    Oger JJ; Werker DH; Foti DJ; Dekaban GA; Department of Medicine,
       University of British Columbia,; Vancouver.
 SO    Can J Neurol Sci. 1993 Nov;20(4):302-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94147254
 AB    Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) is responsible for
       HTLV-I associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)
       and for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Both diseases have been
       well described in individuals living in Japan, West Indies, Seychelles
       Islands and Columbia where infection with HTLV-I is considered endemic
       and in persons whose descendants originated from these endemic areas. We
       report here 4 cases of HAM/TSP in 4 natives from 4 different tribal
       groups from British Columbia (B.C.). These are the first case reports of
       HTLV-I linked diseases found among North American Aboriginals. Possible
       routes of infection for HTLV-I infection included sexual transmission,
       breast feeding, blood transfusions and IV drug use. The seroprevalence
       of HTLV-I in North American Native population is unknown and we suggest
       that it is endemic in this ethnic group.
 DE    Adult  British Columbia  Case Report  Female  Human  *Indians, North
       American  Male  Manitoba  Middle Age  Paraparesis, Tropical
       Spastic/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/TRANSMISSION  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

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